Niagara University, N.Y. – The No. 3 Mercyhurst College women's hockey team registered its third eight-goal game of the season Saturday afternoon, as the Lakers defeated Niagara, 8-2, in a College Hockey America contest at the Dwyer Arena. With the win, the Lakers, who improve to 20-5-0 on the season and 9-0-0 in conference play, stretch their winning streak to six games and mark their seventh consecutive 20-win season.

Freshman Bailey Bram led all scorers with her first collegiate hat-trick, while junior captain Meghan Agosta and sophomore Melissa Lacroix registered three points apiece. Agosta scored her 18th goal of the season and added two assists while Lacroix netted three helpers.

Despite outshooting the Purple Eagles, 16-7, in the first period, Mercyhurst was only able to take a 1-0 lead into intermission. Senior Hayley McMeekin broke the ice with her ninth score of the season thanks to a couple of assists from freshman Kelley Steadman and Lacroix at the 18:02 mark.

After the break, the Lakers opened the flood gates to take a 4-0 lead. Bram tallied two of her three scores within a two minute span, scoring her first at 4:58 while adding her second at 6:53. Sophomore Ashley Cockell followed with her fifth of the year to make the score, 4-0, at 10:15. Freshman Julie Hersey picked up her first collegiate point on the play.

The Lakers doubled their goal total in the third, scoring four times to mark their first eight-goal outing since doing it twice against Vermont in early January. Agosta increased the lead to 5-0 with a short-handed score just 5:52 into the frame.

Niagara got on the board less than three minutes later, with Autumn Stuntz connecting on the power-play at 8:52. However, the Lakers would push the score to 8-1 with three consecutive goals from sophomore Jesse Scanzano at 11:01, Bram at 15:49 and senior Valerie Chouinard on the power-play at 17:08.

The Purple Eagles closed out the game with a score from Melanie Mills at 17:58.

Freshman Hillary Pattenden earned her 16th win of the season with 22 saves as the Lakers outshot the Purple Eagles, 47-24. Both teams were successful at converting on the power-play, with the Lakers finishing at 1-for 5 and the Purple Eagles at 1-for-8.

Both teams resume the series on Sunday, Feb. 8 for a 2 p.m. face-off at the Dwyer Arena.